Gately Stadium Gets Much Needed Extreme Makeover

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Patrick McCaskey, Bears Director of Special Projects, Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) and Susana Vasquez, Executive Director of LISC/Chicago cut the ceremonial ribbon at the newly renovated Gately Stadium.
Patrick McCaskey, Bears Director of Special Projects, Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) and Susana Vasquez, Executive Director of LISC/Chicago cut the ceremonial ribbon at the newly renovated Gately Stadium.

A popular South side football stadium recently received a long over-do facelift or what some might venture to call, an extreme makeover.

Gately Stadium , the home field to several Chicago public schools and park districts is now showing off a brand new synthetic turf field, scoreboard, lighting and seating thanks to a fundraising partnership between the NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program, Local Initiatives Support Corporation-Chicago (LISC/Chicago), the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

Before a game between Julian and Michele Clark high schools, players, parents, community members and educators stood present on Gately Stadium located at 810 E. 103rd St., to celebrate and highlight its $600,000 renovation project. Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward) and Ald. Anthony Beale (9th Ward) who reportedly donated $5,000 each toward the project attended the festivities as well.

We are immensely grateful to CPS, LISC/Chicago and the Bears for their support, said Ald. Harris. It is a wonderful addition to the community.

The NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations and high schools with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of football fields in underserved areas of NFL markets according to its website.

The mission of LISC/Chicago is to organize capital and other resources to support initiatives that will stimulate the comprehensive development of healthy, stable neighborhoods and foster their connection to the socioeconomic mainstream of the metropolitan region.

Ald. Harris also thanked CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, Bears Director of Special Projects, Patrick McCaskey and the Executive Director of LISC/Chicago, Susana Vasquez, during the ceremony for their hard work and dedication towards Gatelys refurbishing.

"While I am new to Chicago, I am not new to school sports and the important role they play in the lives of our youth and in the spirit of our schools," said Brizard who reflected back on playing ftbol in his native country. "On behalf of the schools and students that call this renewed stadium home, I extend my most sincere thanks to those who made it all possible. he added.

Since 1998, $30 million in NFL Grassroots field grants for 241 renovation projects have been awarded. Totaling $125 million in developmental costs, stadiums have been enhanced in over 70 cities. Grants announcements are done annually in the early spring.

By: Abbra Stiffend

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